For South San ISD, it's same-old or new era

Updated 7:32 pm, Friday, November 11, 2011

If only the South San Antonio Independent School District could go the way of the Bexar Metropolitan Water District, there might be hope for this dysfunctional district.

Unfortunately for South San students and taxpayers, there is no mechanism in place that would allow the dismantling of the current power structure in this beleaguered school district and permit it be taken over by a more professional and responsible entity.

School board elections in the South Side district never bring the change needed, even when new players are brought in. It has been disheartening in the 10 years I have been monitoring this school district to see control of the district go from one political machine to another, each intent on pushing forward its agenda. Articles in our newspaper archives and conversations with longtime district residents indicate this has been the pattern for decades.

The South San school board has the opportunity to bring major positive change to the district, but it could all be marred by politics.

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After months of working to get rid of longtime superintendent Ron Durbon, the school board earlier this week finally took a vote to get him off the payroll after receiving the go-ahead from a Texas Education Agency hearing examiner.

Given the facts in the case against Durbon, the decision was really no surprise. It is difficult to comprehend how anyone could expect the district to be able to function after the working relationship between the board and its top administrator disintegrated to the point that the superintendent was filing temporary restraining orders against board members.

The task of hiring another permanent superintendent now begins. The process could get ugly. I have absolutely no faith the process will result in the hiring of the best candidate for the job.

The current board, under school board President Connie Prado, has made some strides in shedding some sunshine on the board's operations. However, some individual board members continue to micromanage the district's day-to-day operations to such a degree no legitimate candidate would want to risk getting the job.

South San is in desperate need of an independent-thinking professional with integrity who can manage the hardcore politics from the school board, keep the district's business dealings honest and provide the district with the direction necessary to take academics to the next level.

The question is, will board members hire an administrator who will perform in the best interest of the children and taxpayers or will they hand pick a superintendent who will best serve as their puppet and help carry out their political agendas?

The messy business in South San is far from over.

The recently fired superintendent still has a few days left to decide if he will appeal his termination from the school board.

Durbon's son, Gary Durbon, the school district's former athletic director, has a defamation of character lawsuit pending against the school board president and another school board member.

And the grand jury is still investigating missing money from some athletic event funds.

There was a lot of reassigning of personnel on the various campuses after the senior Durbon was placed on administrative leave in the spring. There was more movement after grand jury subpoenas started circulating as well as some resignations submitted this week after Durbon was fired.

With all the distractions, it is a wonder there is any educating going on. The board needs to do right by the students and those who pay the taxes that support the district.